Miss Grice’s car tyres were slashed and Lane pulled her by the hair in the street, the court heard.

It was after he collected his belongings from her home last summer he stole a door key, Mr Bennetts said.

“About 6am he went to the house and let himself in. She was in bed when she heard noises and footsteps approaching her bedroom,” Mr Bennetts said.

“She hid under the duvet and heard her bedroom door open and a male breathing in her room. He remained for about a minute before he left.”

STEVE REIGATE

Ashley Cooke found a note attached to his vandalised car

When he left she looked out the window and saw Lane walking off, the court heard.

He was arrested and cautioned but Miss Grice then received heavy-breathing calls from an unknown number. Lane also told a friend at the time “she would pay” for what she had done.

He had arranged for alerts to be sent to his phone from the tracking device on her car to trace her movements.

STEVE REIGATE

Lane allegedly tried to burn down Miss Grice's room

After she finally told him the relationship was over, Lane texted saying: “It has to be goodbye forever.” Mr Bennetts said on August 25 Lane watched Mr Cooke leave Miss Grice’s home and added: “Michael Lane went in.

"He slit her throat and no doubt intending to destroy any evidence of his presence in the house, he set fire to the room in which she was in.

"In fact, the fire did not destroy the room.”

After she failed to appear at work a friend called round, only to spot a bloody footprint on the door of the property.

When friends entered the house it was full of smoke. Mr Bennetts said: “Through the hazy smoke they were able to see a body lying face down on the bed.”

A post mortem examination revealed the cause of death was a 4in slash to the throat.